‘the Crucible’ and ‘the Island’ - Belonging

To belong is to be, or have the feeling of being accepted or included by a certain group, person, place or community. While initially an individual may belong to a community or group, speaking their opinion can seclude them, and cause them to become an outsider. Belonging to a community or group can be very beneficial, and not belonging can cause an individual to face consequences. Hysteria and fear can be caused throughout a community by outsiders who don’t belong. We are able to view these experiences of belonging and not belonging through the use of characters and events throughout a variety of texts. Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” and Armin Geder’s picture book “The Island” display how an individual can belong and not belong at different stages throughout their life and the experiences these characters face.
While and individual may initially belong to the community, having differing views and opinions can seclude them from this group, causing them to become an outsider. In ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, Reverend John Hale, a minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft, is called in to Salem. While in the beginning he is the force behind the witch trials, probing for confessions and encouraging people to testify, he later experiences a transformation. He listens to John Proctor and Mary Warren and becomes convinced that they, not Abigail, are telling the truth, “I believe him. This girl has always struck me false!” As his belief in witchcraft falters, so does his faith in the law, “I denounce these proceedings. I quit this court!” It is evident that Hale turns his back on theocracy and follows what he truly believes with Arthur Miller’s stage direction ‘He slams the door to the outside behind him’.
This is also evident in ‘The Island’ by Armin Geder through the use of the character, ‘The Fisherman’. The Fisherman represents Christian ideals such as caring and sharing for the outsider “We can’t ignore him now that he is among us, we must help him,”